Since 2004, the UK has been providing assistance to Libya to improve the standards in Libyan prisons. The British Embassy in Tripoli has been undertaking this work in partnership with the Libyan Ministry of Justice, the Libyan Judicial Police and experts from the International Centre for Prison Studies (ICPS), King's College London.

During their most recent visit in June 2008, the ICPS experts and Embassy staff were given full access to a number of prisons in Tripoli, where they saw some of the improvements that have been made so far and discussed future plans. The improvements made range from improved catering, educational and medical facilities all the way to the rebuilding of entire sections of the prisons, designed in line with international standards. Over the past 4 years, the ICPS team have been able to visit almost every prison in Libya to see the improvements that are taking place and to work on plans for future progress. Later this year, every Libyan prison under the control of the Justice Ministry will have an improvement plan in place.

More efforts are required before Libyan prisons meet international human rights standards, including greater involvement of Libyan civil society groups. In particular, as in many other prison systems around the world, overcrowding remains a key problem. But the Libyan authorities have shown their commitment to meeting international standards, and the British Embassy in Tripoli is pleased to have been able to contribute to the progress achieved so far.